Two TD catches places Sims atop ratings

By Staff     Sep 10, 2016

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Kansas wide receiver Steven Sims Jr. (11) celebrates with teammate Ke'aun Kinner (22) after his second touchdown of the third quarter on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2016 at Memorial Stadium.

**1. Steven Sims Jr.** – Two games into the season, Sims has nine receptions, for four touchdowns, and is averaging 26.4 yards per catch. His second of two TD catches Saturday was a spectacular one on which he was closely covered near the left boundary of the end zone. He caught it inches from the ground and hug onto it, a score that held up against a review. Sims did not show that same laser focus when he stepped out of the white box that separates the field from the sideline and into the end zone to celebrate LaQuvionte Gonzalez’s touchdown. He was flagged for 15 yards.

**2. Daniel Wise -** Defensive tackle did a strong job of getting into the backfield to record a team-high four tackles for loss. He also batted down a pass and finished with seven tackles, six of the solo variety.

**3. LaQuvionte Gonzalez -** Put Kansas on the board with a 99-yard kickoff return that made the score 28-7 and sparked a mini-comeback. Also caught five passes for 45 yards and was badly overthrown after getting behind the secondary, setting himself up for what would have been an easy score had the throw hit him in stride.

**4. Bazie Bates IV-** Punched a touchdown out of Ohio receiver Jordan Reid’s hands, shrinking a seven-point play to three when the Bobcats had to settle for a field goal. In his second consecutive strong game, the safety had nine solo tackles and 11 overall.

**5. Marcquis Roberts -** Active in his return after missing the first game of the season. Had 10 tackles, nine of them solo and two for a loss and also deflected a pass.

**6. Joe Dineen Jr. -** The Local Boy had 10 tackles, two behind the line of scrimmage, and a quarterback hurry. Has a nose for the ball and the speed to get where he wants to go.

**7. Montell Cozart -** Went into the locker room at halftime in the midst of a really bad day and emerged from it on fire. KU’s only first-half first down came by way of a penalty and the offense had just 21 total yards. His worst play of the half came when he badly overthrew a wide-open Gonzalez, burning a sure six points. Proving he has the “next-play,” approach down, Cozart completed 11 of 15 passes for 183 yards and two touchdowns in the second half. He threw 244 passes and was not intercepted. Running toward the sideline on a third-down play early in the fourth quarter, Cozart was smoked badly and was not able to return to the game.

**8. Fish Smithson -** Had a big interception in the end zone and broke up two passes, but he also was flagged 15 yards for a facemask penalty.

**9. Tevin Shaw -** Had two tackles for loss and broke up three passes. Also missed a tackle that led to a big gain and was flagged for pass interference

**10. Matthew Wyman -** Strong foot. Averaged 65.6 yards on five kickoffs, including one after a safety that all the way into the end zone over the heads of the return men.

Season standings
———–

1. Steven Sims Jr. – 20
2. Daniel Wise – 18
3. LaQuovionte Gonzalez – 15
4. Montell Cozart – 12
5. Bazie Bates IV – 10
6. Marcquis Roberts – 6
7. Ryan Willis – 6
8. Joe Dineen Jr. – 5
9. Courtney Arnick – 5
10. Tyler Patrick – 4
11. Fish Smithson – 3
12. Damani Mosby – 2
13. Tevin Shaw – 2
14. Chevy Graham – 1
15. Matthew Wyman – 1

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